THE GOVERNMENT PARTIES need to be humble in the wake of Catherine Connolly’s resounding win in the Áras election, Fianna Fáil TD Pádraig O’Sullivan has said.

The backbench TD was speaking at the count centre at Nemo Rangers GAA Club in Cork as Fine Gael candidate Heather Humphreys conceded the election to the left-backed Independent. 

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Fianna Fáil TD Pádraig O’Sullivan doesn’t spare it in this interview from Cork. Particularly about negative campaigning and his own party’s performance. @thejournal_ie pic.twitter.com/xCsPjG6i8d

— Niall O’Connor (@NiallJournal_ie) October 25, 2025

O’Sullivan told The Journal that today’s result doesn’t come as a surprise, “but combined government parties on 30-odd per cent obviously doesn’t instill you with confidence”.

Fianna Fáil’s candidate Jim Gavin ended his campaign amid controversy in early October.

There’s been a high number of spoiled votes in many areas today, following a concerted campaign calling people to register their dissatisfaction with the lack of choice. 

“The public have had their say. I think, for both parties now, we need to be humble,” O’Sullivan said.

The leadership of both parties need to listen to the electorate.

While counting is still underway, tallies indicate a historic low turnout.

“Half the electorate decided not to turn out today, and a high proportion [....] will have decided to either spoil their vote intentionally or to express another preference that wasn’t available to them on the ballot,” said O’Sullivan.

“Government parties, it’s incumbent on us all now to listen to people and to reflect and to ensure that in the future that things can be done an awful lot better.”

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O’Sullivan was among the TDs who were critical of his party’s presidential pick from the beginning, calling the selection process a “circus”. 

Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin committed to a review of the processes that saw Gavin put forward as a candidate.

He was chosen over party stalwart MEP Billy Kelleher, after Martin pressured members of the parliamentary party to back Gavin, numerous insiders said.